KUCHING, March 29: Department of Community Communications (J-KOM) hopes to build a good relationship with the Sarawak government.
According to a report by Sarawak Public Communications Unit (Ukas), J-KOM director-general Dato Dr Mohammad Agus Yusoff said the department promised to convey the policies of the federal and Sarawak governments well to the people.
“We have a total of 71 officers here and we will ensure that our officers can deliver good information to the rural community here so that our Malaysia can be developed in peace and harmony.
“Therefore, I am very excited about the cooperation given by Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg and Deputy Minister in the Sarawak Premier’s Department (Corporate Affairs, Information and Ukas) Datuk Abdullah Saidol because we can do many things together to develop the people here,” he said when met by the press after paying a courtesy call on Abang Johari at Wisma Bapa Malaysia here today.
Mohammad Agus also revealed the new J-KOM Sarawak director will be appointed soon and the person would be tasked with observing several programmes to be carried out in Sarawak.
“We will organise at least four programmes a month in Sarawak for districts selected by the new director later.
“The new director of J-KOM Sarawak will discuss together with the team in implementing these programmes and the national J-KOM would be ready to assist,” he added.
Rebranded from Department of Special Affairs (Jasa), J-KOM which is now placed under the Prime Minister’s Office, is tasked with creating two-way communications between the government and the people by implementing grassroot-level community development programmes and activities.
In November 2020, former Minister of Communications and Multimedia Datuk Saifudin Abdullah told the Dewan Rakyat that the functions of J-KOM differed from Department of Information (Japen) which was tasked to provide an understanding of government’s policies, programmes and initiatives to the public through communications.
Saifuddin also said J-KOM will not overlap with its brother agencies such as the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama), Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) and the Malaysian National Film Development Corporation (Finas) which have their own target groups, as well as different approaches and activities. — DayakDaily
